Zone-metering telephone system



July 10, 1928.

R. F. GOULD ZONE METERING TELEPHONE SYSTEM 4 Sheets-Sheet l IIWE'EIFF 1531 F Euuld Filed March 23. 1927 ZONE METERING TELEPHONE SYS'IEI E E1: ul

July 10, 1928.

1,677,079 R. F. GOULD ZONE METERING TELEPHONE SYSTEM Filed March 23, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 10, 1928. 1,677,079

R. F. GOULD 7 ZONE METERING 'I ELEPHONE SYSTEM Patented July 10, 1928.

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROY GOULD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB TO RESERVE HOLDING COMPANY, O]!

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

ZONE-METERING TELEIHONE SYSTEM.

Application filed March 23, 1927. Serial No. 177,484.

The object of the invention is to improvev systems of this general character by pro-- viding simplified equipment common to an exchange for causing the registering operation to be effected and to, so far as possible, eliminate equipment which must be provided individual to a repeater.

Another object is to provide circuits for operating a booster battery meter wherein the operating margin of tie meter is considerably increased over methods formerly used.

Other features have to do with the prov1- sion of various circuits in a system of this kind tending to make it more efficient and practi -al.

The foregoing features together with others notspecifically mentioned will be more fully pointed out hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings con'iprising Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, which show by means of usual circuit diagrams sutticient of the apparatus employed in a system cn'lhodying the principles of the invention to enable the same to be understood.

In the drawings Figs. 1, 2, and 3, when placed in order with the corresponding lines inalignment, represents the apparatus employed in setting up a connection between two substations located in different exchanges. Fig. 4 illustrates zone meter control equipment common to an exchange and should be placed below Fig. 2. The automatic equipment shown in Figs. 1, 2, and Fig. 4 is assumed to be located in one ofiice, while the equipment shown in Fig. 3 is assumed to be located in a distant oflice.

The automatic substations A, Fig. 1, and A, Fig. 3, are ordinary automatic substations having the usual talking, signalling, and impulse sending instrumentalities.

The lineswitch C, Fig. 1, is mechanically of the well known rotary type in which the wipers have no normal position and move in a forward direction only. The lineswitch C, Fig. 3, which isdenoted by a dotted rec tangle, is assumed to be identical to the lineswitch C.

The selector D, Fig. 1, is mechanically of the well known vertical and rotary type and accordingly its bank contacts therein are arranged in horizontal rows or levels. The circuits of this switch are shown complete and will be described hereinafter. The selector switches E and F, indicated in Fi 3 by dotted rectangles are each assumed to be identically like the selector D of Fig. 1.

The automatic repeater B, Fig. 2,.istundan'ientally an ordinary repeater of the type which is in common use, having its circuits varied, however, for a purpose which will,

appear more fully hereinafter, This re peater is used principally to avoid the necessity of having three conductors in the associated trunk line which extends to the next otlicc.

The code cut-oil switch, indicated by the reference character CCS, is Oill a well known pawl and ratchet type which moves its wiper upon energization of its operating magnet and restores to normal under control of a releasing spring and associated release magnot. i

The connector H,Fig. 3 is mechanically the same as the selector D and is provided with well known circuits which have been partially showm v The relay group shown in Fig. 4 is coniposed of relays of the ordinary typeused in telephone work and their circuits will be fully described hereinafter.

The circuit changing springs within the dotted rectangle in the upper right hand corner of Fig. 4 are time controlled, and are for a purpose which will subsequently be made clear. a

In order that a clear understanding of all features of the invention may be had the same will be described by giving a detailed description of its operation. For this purpose it will be assumed that a subscriber at substation A, Fig. 1, desires to obtain a connection with the subscriber A, Fig. 3, whose line, it is assumed, terminates in a distant oilice.

The origination of the call at the substation A proceeds in the well known manner,

that is to say, the line relay 10 of the switch C responds to the lifting of the receiver and arranges that either the rotary magnet 12 or the cut-oil relay 11 is energized according as to whether the line on which the wipers of the lineswitch are resting is engaged or idle, so that the wipers are stepped around until an idle trunk is found, say that lead ing to the selector D. The cut-oti' relay ll is then operated to connect the subscribers line through to the selector 1) thereby causing the energization of line relay 17 which is followed by theenergization of release relay 18. i On the subscriber dialing series relay 25 and vertical magnet .20 areenergized in response to the impulses and step the wipers up to the required level. On the deenergization of relay 25 an initial impulse is given to the rotary magnet 26 by means of the stepping relay Q7. The subsequent operation depends upon whether the first trunk line on the level selected is idle or other wise. The relay 27 or the switching relay 22 is-operated depending upon whether the line is busy or idle respectively. If the lirst trunk is busy the relay 2? causes the interinittent energization of rotary magnct- 26 until an idle trunk is found when the relay 22 is energized and extends the subscribers line through to the selected outgoing trunk.

It will be assumed that the repeater R has been connected with, so that the line relay 56 of this repeater is immediately encrgized. This is followed by the energization of the release relay 60 which, at its armature 61 closes a point in a bridge across conductors 54 and 55, atits armature (32 connects the grounded conductor 7 9 to the release trunk 32 to prevent switches D and G from releasing, at its armature 63 connects ground to the polarizing winding of relay (37, at its armature (34 prepares a circuit for relays 6G, 78 and operating magnet 82, and at its armature 65 applies ground tothe conductor 91.

i for a purpose which will be explained later.

The line relay 56 upon energizing, in addition to closing the circuit of relay 60, also at its armature 58 and front'contact completes a bridge across the trunk conductors S-t and 55 extending to the distant exchange. This bridge extends from trunk conductor 54. armature 61 and its front contact, through the armature of relay 66 and its resting contact, the lower winding ofelectro-polarized relay 67, contacts controlled by armature 53. right-hand winding of the retardation coil 59, and the working contact and armature 58 to trunk conductor 55.

Responsive to the closure of this bridge the line relay of the incoming selector of the distant oliice operates and prepares the switch for operation responsive to further impulses transmitted from thesubstation A. It will be assumed that the station desired is located in an exchange local to the selector 1i and that the particular group of switches having access to the substation A are connected with via the second level of the sclector it. Under this assumption the suh scrihcr at substation A will proceed to dial the second digit of the subscriber nulnhcr causing the line relay it in the repeater it to drop back twice. As is customary in repeaters o-l this character in order to cut down the line impedance as much as possible while dialing, the series relay tit; is opcrated upon the first restoration oi armature 57 and closes a direct bridge across conductors 5i and 55 independent of the operating winding of relay (5? and of the retardation coil 59. This modilied circuit is maintained during each subsequent series of impulses transmitted through or repeated by the repeater R. In order to guard against the possibility of the line relay of any switch under control in the distant ollicc l'rom restoring while the armature of relay (it; is passing :l'rom its make to its break contact at the end of an impulse series the resistance X is provided. The line relay at; twice momentarily opens the bridge at its armature 58 to cause the selector l) at the distant exchange to elevate its Wipers oppo sil'c its second level of banlc contacts.

Linc rclayfitl also at its armature 5T transniits a like series of impulses by way of armature (ii and its working contact, conductor 74, normally closed oil normal springs 83 ot the code-cut-oli' switch COL, winding of series relay 78 and the motor magnet 8:2 to battery, causing this switch to step its wiper 86 into engagement with its second bank contact. At the termination of this series of impulses the relay 78 restores and cannot again become energized owing to the oil normal spring 83 having opened the instant the code selecting switch moved oli' normal. Therefore any subsequent. series of impulses transmitted out over the trunk is inellective so far as the code cut-oil, switch is concerned.

We are not particularly concerned with the further operations which take place relative to completing the connection with the subscriber at substation A and. therelorc. none of the circuits have becn shown with the exception of that part of the connector circuit which is effective to control certain circuits of the rcliieater when the called subscriber responds.

Upon the response of the called subscriber back-bridge relay 88 energizes and reverses the direction of current flow back over the trunk conductors 5i and in the usual and wclllcnown manner. This change of direction of current flow causes the electro-polarized relay (37 in the repeater R to operate, at its armature (l9 shorting out: the resistance X, and at its armature 68 and its Eli lay 110 operates.

grounded working contact completing a circuit for the reversing rela 51 which in turn operates to reverse the direction of current flow back over the calling line as is done in ordinary practice, at its armature 53 connecting the left-hand winding of the retardation COll 59 In series w th its right hand winding, and at its armature 52 and working contact prepares a circuit for operating the register pickup relay 70.

WVe will now direct our attention to certain operations which occur in the relay group shown in Fig, 4. When the release relay 60 of the repeater energizes, following the energization of the line rela 56, it connects ground b way of its Wor *ing contact and armature 65 to the interrupter start conductor 91. When this occurs the relay group shown in Fig. 4 starts to function if it is not already functioning, due to some otherrepeater havin been seized, in a manner which will now explained. A circuit is first closed for slow 'release relay 101, which operates, at its armature 103 applies ground to the register conductor 92 but without effect so far as this connection is concerned, at its armature 102 completes a circuit for relay 105, by way of conductor 117, and the chain circuit including armatures 129, 122, 116 and 108, and at its armature 104 also completes a circuit for relay 100. The relay 100 operates and breaks the circuit of relay 101'which, after an instant,

restores permitting relay 1 00 to restore and again complete the circuit for-101. It will be seen from this that these tworelays alternately operate so long as ground is applied to conductor 91.

i The rela 105 upon operating, at its armature 123 c oses a circuit for the relay 110 and a holding circuit for itself including this latter relay, so that as soon as round is removed from conductor 117, which occurs when the relay 101 deenergizes, the re- The ope 'ation of relay 105, in addition to completing the circuit just described, at its armature 106 closes a point in a pick up register circuit extending to all the repeaters of the exchange via conductor 93, and at its armature 107 opens a point in a circuit for supplying ground to out off conductors 13613S terminating in bank contacts of code cut-0E. switches associated with the various repeaters of the exchange.

Upon the first deenergization of relay 101 relay 110 operates in series with 105 and at its armature 108 prepares a circuit for relay 111. Upon the deener ization of relay 101 circuits are completed From the ground ed conductor 91 to the pickup relays corresponding to of all the repeaters such as R which have their back bridge relays energized at this time. This circuit in the case of the repeater R extends from the grounded common conductor 91, via armature 103 and its resting contact, armature 112-and its resting contact, working contact and armature 106, conductor 93, armature 52 oi the back bridge relay and its working contact, contacts controlled by armature 71, resting contact and armature 91, and the winding of pick-up relay 70] to battery and ground.

The relay 70 now operates, at its armature 71 completes a locking circuit for itself independent of conductor 93 at its armature 72 connects the wiper 86 of the code cuto'tl' switch with the winding of register cut'otl relay 7-5, and at its armature 73 closes a point in the circuit of register control relay 80.

'Now upon the second energization ofrelay 101, armature 108 being in its alternate position, a circuit is completed for relay 111 which, at its armature 112 opens a point in the pickup circuit to prevent a false impulse being transmitted thercover upon the subsequent deenergization of 1.01, at its armature 113 closes a circuit for relay 115, and at armature 9S closes a point in a. circuit extending to cut-oft conductor 136; A registering impulse is also transmitted from grounded conductor 91, via armature 103 and its working contact to the register conductor 92 and thence to all register control relays which were connected up by the pickup pulse. In the repeater R the circuit may be traced from working contact and armature 7 3, resting contact and armature 76 and the winding of the register control relay to battery. Responsive to this pulse the relay 80 energizes and substitutes booster battery 15 for the ground normally supplied to the release trunk conductor. This booster battery flows back over the holding conductor 32 and to the meter M connected in multiple with the switching relay 11 causing the operation of the meter. The meter in operating short circuits its own operating winding, but is not reoperated even it booster battery is maintained thereon, because, owing to the weight of the arn'iature and to the adjustment of the short circuiting contacts the armature can not restore sufiiciently to engage a second tooth of the register wheel, however, when the usual holding ground is again placed on the conductor 32' as a result of the deenergization of the register control relay 80, following the deenergization of 101, the meter quickly restores tonormal.

The relay 115 operates in series with. 111 upon the second deenergizationof relay 101, at its armature 111 unlocks and permits the restoration of relays and 110, and at its armature 116 prepares a circuit for relay 120.

The third energization of relay 101 now *auses a second impulse to be transmitted over the register conductor 92 via the armw ture 103, and at its armature 102 completes the circuit or relay 120 which, at its armature 119 closes the circuit of relay 120 in series with its own winding, and at its armature 11S opens one and closes another point in a circuit extending to conductor 136.

N ow upon the third deenergization of relay 101 relay operates, at its armature 12% opens the series holding circuit extending thru relays 115 and 11.1 permitting them to restore, and at its armature 122 prepares an operating circuit for relay 126. The relay 101 at its armature 103 and its resting contact now extends ground via resting contact and armature 107, conductor 95, armature 131 and its resting contact, armature 127 and its resting contact, armature 118 and its working contact, contact spring 96 and its back contact, and common conductor 130. Since this conductor terminates in the second bank contact of the code cut-ofi' switches such as GUS any repeater having its pick-up relay energized at this time and having its code cut-oil switch wiper on its second associated bank lUlltilL'b will have its code cut-ott' relay operated. This is the condition assumed as regards the repeater R. 'lherclore ground is extended via wiper 80, armature l2 and its working contact to the winding of code cutolt relay T5 and battery. The relay 75, accordingly operates, at its armature 91 unlocks the pickup relay, at armature 76 opens a point in the operating circuit of register control relay 80 and at its ari'nature 77 completes a local locking circuit for itself. Since the register control circuit is now open at armature 73 and at armature 76 no further registration can be made on the register of the calling subscribers line.

Had the foregoing described connection been set up at a time of day when traiiic is at its lightest the time control contacts 90, .00 and would have been in their alternate position and the code cut-oil relay 75 would have been operated following the first registration instead of the second. This would have taken place as a result of ground being supplied to conductor 1536 upon the second deenergization of relay 101, via armature 103 and its resting contact, resting contact and armature 107, conductor 95, chain contacts 134-, 127, and 118, working contact and armature 98 and the working contact and spring 90 to conductor 136.

Had the foregoing described connection been extended via some other level of the selector to a subscriber located in some other exchange the code cut-oil switch. would have been positioned to a level or bank contact to which is connected a code cut-oil conductor which is not supplied with cut-off potential until some other number of registering pulses have been transmitted to the register conductor 92 appropriate for that particular connection. For instance, had the code-cut-otf switch been positioned on its third bank contact the circuit for the code cut-011' relay 75 would not have had its circuit completed until after the transmission of two or three impulses to the associated register depending on the time of day.

\Vith this state of all'airs, and assuming spring 90 as being in the position shown, upon the :l'ourth cncrgization of relay 10l a third registering impulse is transmitted to conductor 03. Relay 120 also operates at its arn'iature 128 closes a circuit for relay 130 and at armature 12? connects conductor 95 to the code cut-otf conductor 13? terminating in the third bank contact of the code cut-011' switches such as (JCS. 'lheretore, upon the fourth dcenergization of relay 101 a cut-oil impulse is transmitted via armature 103 and its back contact to conductor 95 and thence to conductor 137.

The fifth energization of relay 101 causes a fourth impulse to be transmitted to the connnon metering conductor 92, but without ellect so far as repeater R is concerned and also causes the cnergizatioirof relay This relay at its armature 131 transfers conductor as from cut-o1l' conductor 13? to conductor 138 so that the lilth deenergization of relay 101 causes a cut-oll' impulse to be transmitted to this latter conductor. The litth deenergization of 101 also causes relay 135 to operate and break the holding circuit of relays 130 and 132. The restoration of relay 130 places the relays in condition to be again operated as before it the conductor 01 is still grounded.

While in the present illustration provision has only been made for the transmission of four codes it will readily be seen that this has been done merely to avoid complicating the drawings. The mere addition of relays such as 120, 130, and 1.32, 135 and appropriate conductors similar to 130-138 the tall ten codes can be given.

It will further be understood that the selector 1) might have selected another branch in lieu olf that extending to the repeater :R. and would have then seized a repeater similar to R, but which may have its code cut-otl' switch bank contacts connected up so that the code transmitted may be altogether diftcrnt for the same selector setting than that effected by setting the selector E on the same level.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that applicant has designed a comparatively simple arrangement for taking care of zone metering wherein the circuit of the meter used makes the meter positive in operation, wherein the major portion of the zone metering equipment is made common to the exchange and contains nothing but relays which are in no way dependent on marginal adjustments or peculiar actions of any kind.

lVhat I claim is:

1. In a measured service telephone sysill) tem, a meter having operating and non-inductive windings connected in series, and contacts on said meter etlective, when operated, to short circuit said operating windmg.

2. In a measured service telephone system, a meter having operating and non-inductive windings connected in series, contacts on said meter effective, when operated, to short circuit said operating winding, a relay, a holding circuit for said relay having a branch extending to the circuit of said meter wind ings, a source of current effective to hold said relay operated but ineliective so far as operation or holding operated effectiveness of the meter is concerned, and means for increasing the current supply to said relay and meter to continue to hold the relay operated and to also cause the operation of the meter.

3. In a measured service telephone system, ameter, and a relay group common to the exchange for transmitting an impulse to prepare an operating circuit for said meter, to then transmit impulses to cause operations of the said meter and to thereafter transmit an impulse to prevent further impulses being transmitted to said meter.

4. In a telephone system, subscribers lines equipped with meters, means including a train of automatic switches for setting up a talking connection between said lines. operating circuits for said meters, relay individual to the connection operative responsive to the removal of the called subscribers receiver from the switch hook to prepare a point in the circuit of the calling lines meter, a switch individual to and operative in synchronism with one of said switches used in establishing the connection to determine the number of times the connected meter is to be operated, and a relay group common to the connection for transmitting an impulse thereto to further prepare the meter for operation, to then transmit a number of meter control. impulses dependent on the extent of operation ot the individual switch and to then send an impulse effective to prevent further meter control impulses being effective.

5. In a telephone system, subscribers lines equipped with meters, a trunk line, means including a train of automatic switches for setting up a connection between a pair of said lines, a meter control relay for said trunk efi'ective when actuated to operate the meter of the calling line, a second relay cl feetive when operated to prepare an operating circuit for said meter control relay, and a relay group effective to transmit impulses to the second, meter control and third relay, respectively in the order named.

6. In a measured service telephone system, a plurality of exchanges, a selecting device in each exchange having a plurality of cont acts, one for each of the other exchanges, said switch responsive to an impulse series transmitted to a switch used in trunking calls to select the particular contact corresponding to the'calling exchange, and a group of relays and clock controlled cont-acts common to the exchange for assessing charges depending on the position of said selecting device and the time of day the connection is set up.

7. In a telephone system, a calling line equipped with a meter, trunk lines accessible to said line for extending connections to called lines, pick up, operating and cut-oft relays, respectively, associated with each of said trunk lines, a conductor common to said trunk lines for controlling the respective pick up relays, a second conductor common to said meter operating relays, and a plurality of conductors common to said trunk lines for controlling said cut-otli relays.

8. In a measured service telephone system, subscribers lines, meters for said lines, a plurality of trunk lines for extending connections between said lines, normally inactive meter control mechanism common to said trunk lines for controlling the meter of a calling line, a plurality of 'cut-ofi' leads extending to said mechanism, and means associated with each trunk line for selecting any of saidleads.

-9. In a measured service telephone system, subscribers lines, meters for said lines, a trunk line for extending a connection between any of said lines, normally inactive meter operating mechanism associated with said trunk line and having a plurality of cut-oft leads, and means associated with the trunk line for selecting any one of said cutoff leads.

10. In a measured service telephone system, subscribers" lines, meters for said lines, a trunk line for extending connection between any two of said lines, meter operating mechanism associated with said trunk line, a plurality of cut-ofi' leads associated with said mechanism for determining the operation of the meter, and clock controlled means for switching said cut'ofi' leads from one point to another at dilierent times of the day to Vary the control of the meters.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 21st day of March, A. D. 1927.

7 nor neounn. 

